"He is as fine a fellow," said Mr. Bennet, as soon as they were out of the house, "as ever I saw. He simpers, and smirks, and makes love to us all. I am prodigiously proud of him. I defy even Sir William Lucas himself to produce a more valuable son-in-law."
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 53. Mr. Bennet is having a little joke here as he engages in ironic mockery of his son-in-law George Wickham. Seemingly praising Lydia’s husband, Mr. Bennet is actually being sarcastic and insulting, letting Mrs. Bennet know that he can see through the smooth operator Wickham’s deceptive charms. He also sneers at Sir William Lucas’s "charming" son-in-law Mr. Collins, whom he can only tolerate for short periods of time.